Anne Ivy Fuller
Ann Ivy Fuller(Nee Wood)-Burwell & Reach resident for over 70 years-passed away 21st August 2010
Ann's family would like to thank everyone for the letters of condolances & donations for the Arthur Rank Hospice & for all family & Friends that attended her funeral on Tuesday 31st August 2010
We would like to thank all of the local support services,Burwell Surgery,Lloyds Pharmacy,Bartrum's who provided home support & the Arthur Rank Hospice for all their care & support in her final week's
Ann was born on the 22nd May 1936 at Waterbeach, to parents Robert and Lillian Wood. She was the youngest of their two children and sister to John. At the time they lived at Waterbeach before moving when she was two years old to Reach. The family lived at Church farm which is now The Dykes End Pub Her father was a farmer and some of John's earlier memories were of Ann screaming her head off when her Mum went to help with chopping the beet, therefore she obviously did not like all the experiences of growing up on a farm! Although her cousin Derek remembers those days at the farm being surround with family and the animals as being without doubt some of his happiest childhood memories.
Ann attended Reach primary school which is now the village centre before moving to the secondary school in Burwell. On leaving school she continued to study at the Tech in Cambridge before working as a Solicitors Legal Secretary with Francis & Co.
It was during her time at the Tech that she met her friend Cammie and the two used to enjoy travelling around Europe. At the age of thirteen she met Jean and the two have been great friends ever since. I guess one of those forever people who entered each others'life. The two enjoyed and experienced many changes over the years of growing up and maturing into young ladies. They were not only firm friends but also had a very special spiritual bond that few people experience.
Ann loved to dance, at her 21st birthday party which was held at the farm her Mum was worried that they would fall through the floor with all their dancing! It was at a dance at the Bar of the Dorothy Dance Hall in Cambridge that Ann met Don in 1959. The two began to court and in time they were married here at St Etheldreda on the 11th March 1961. They enjoyed their honeymoon at the Imperial Hotel in Russel Square in London. At the time Don was a Quantity Surveyor and as a result of his work they moved temporary to the village of Seend near Devizes in Wiltshire. It wasn't long before they moved back to Reach and lived in Hythe Lane. In 1971 Don and Ann had their own home built, no 14 Fairgreen right next door to her old primary school.
It wasn't long before the two started a family and it doubled at the arrival of their twin sons Andrew and Peter on 1st April 1962. Eighteen months later their youngest son Paul was born on the 13th December 1963. It was typical of Ann to choose biblical names for their sons. Having three very young sons to take care of, Ann finished work to be able to be at home for them and give them the care they needed. She was a devoted Mum who not only loved her boys but also was very proud of them. She was always there for them. Don worked in London for sixteen years and would leave early each morning. Ann was a full time carer for her family.
Her sons were typical boys who loved to play out on the green with the other children. They would have to keep an eye out for Ann, as she would walk out the front door at 7.00 p.m never saying anything and they knew it was time to be in. The boys would spend so much time at the farm and help out with the harvesting and other jobs. They would enjoy shooting and fishing, and much of the game was hung up and Ann would cook it for them. There was the time when Ann was not happy when she heard the news that they had shot at Uncle Jack's weather vane. Although Uncle Jack wasn't worried, he never did like it!
Ann used to worry about her sons going fishing and would never let them go alone. That is until they reached the age that they didn't need to be chaperoned any more. She made them promise they would not go anywhere near the Reach pit with its 15ft drop. Well boys being boys when they couldn't catch anything in the spot they were in, went and fished at the pit. It was only in recent years that Ann heard the truth of what they used to get up to!
In time as her family grew into young men the inevitable happened and Andrew left home and married Paula in 1985. In 1989 Paul married Paula's younger sister Linda. In 1992 Peter and Caroline were married. Ann found it hard to adjust when her sons left home. It left a void, although she always said she gained three daughters when they married. One of the highlights in the family was when their first grandchild Adam was born. She had in one sense lost a son but gained a grandson. Ann was the proud Nana to Luke, Stephanie (who was the first granddaughter in the family line on Ann's Mum side since Ann was born) She was followed by Matthew, Joshua and Jamie. Ann was devoted and loved all her grandchildren equally. She would look after the next generation when her daughter in laws returned to work. She would give them gifts on their birthdays but always gave their sibling a card and gift to so as not to leave them out. She loved to make up Santa sacks for them just as she did for her own sons.
One of the things about Ann was that she was very house proud. Her home was immaculate even with having three young sons. At an early age Ann suffered with rheumatoid arthritis, however it never stopped her keeping her home beautiful. She had so many treatments over the years and operations on her hands, feet, knees and hips. She was never one to grumble or complain. When her family visited her she never let on how much pain she was in. It was only after they left that Don would find her in tears with such pain. The family tried to encourage Ann to move her bedroom downstairs to make life easier for her, but she would not hear of it. That was the best room and it was staying like it!
In 1997 Don and Ann moved to Poplars Close which was much easier for Ann to cope with. Not only was Ann house proud but she enjoyed cooking. She loved to cook good old fashioned meals and roasts. She particularly liked home-made jam and sweets, having a sweet tooth herself. She and all the family would enjoy large family get togethers.
Ann was an avid reader of Mills and Boons, and attempted to finish a crossword in the paper everyday. She also liked to be entertained with soaps especially Emmerdale and comedies. Ann liked different types of music; she liked Val Doonigan, John Denver, and Glen Campbell. She also liked to watch Songs of Praise and enjoy the hymns.
As a child Ann would go on holiday with her parents. From an early age she didn't lose that love of travelling. She loved the coasts and would love to go to Heacham,Bradwell and special times with her family on the Isle of Wight. Later in life Ann went on a couple of cruises with Don.
I guess each one of us with our different memories, would know Ann as a women who never had a bad word to say about anyone. She always saw the good in others. She had the ability to treat all as equals. She was very independent and had a great sense of humour and could be a bit mischievous in a cheeky kind of a way just like herMum was.
Ann battled for most of her life with pain, in time she was diagnosed with cancer and fought it with great courage. She was moved to the Arthur Rank and it was there that the nurses who cared for Ann and had been trained not to get emotionally involved with the patients, told her family this was not the case with Ann. The family are truly grateful for the excellent care Ann has received particularly whilst at the Arthur Rank. The care for Ann and support to all the family has been without doubt carried out in a dignified and discreet caring way. Any donations received will go to the Arthur Rank with grateful thanks for all they were able to do for Ann. Friends in America are sending out twelve rose bushes and three rose gardens will be planted there by her sons. Ann loved to watch the two doves that would come to the bird tables outside her window so new bird tables will be also donated to brighten other patients days.
Ann lost her brave fight against cancer on the 21st August at the age of seventy four. She died peacefully with her three precious sons at her bedside having seen Don for the last time earlier that day.
If you would like to send a donation for the Arthur Rank Hospice in memory of Ann these can be sent C/O 76 Silver Street,Burwell,Cambs,CB25 0EF